A couple's faithful pet dog helped save their baby's life when she stopped breathing.

Max the German shepherd dog warned Mick McDonald and Marian Derrane their 18-month-old daughter Shona was having convulsions on the back seat of their car.

The pet knew something was wrong and went into a frenzy, whining and running around.

The couple stopped the car and flagged down a passing ambulance whose driver Velia Evans managed to resuscitate Shona.

Mrs Evans realised Shona had a life-threatening temperature and took off her clothes to cool her down before giving her oxygen.

Ms Derrane said: "Velia arrived like an apparition, an angel. It was a miracle."

She said Shona might not have been so lucky had it not been for Max.

"We were in the car when Max jumped up and started running and whining.

"Shona was convulsing but very quietly. If Max had not alerted us we wouldn't have heard her.

"He is always looking out for Shona. They get on so well, even though he is like an old man and she's a baby.

"He even lets her take his bone and she gives him biscuits from the cupboard."

Ms Derrane, 39, and Mr McDonald, 44, an asbestos surveyor, were taking Shona to the doctor's after she developed a temperature yesterday.

The couple, of Bristol Gardens, Kemp Town, Brighton, were on the coast road at Peacehaven when the drama happened.

Mrs Evans, who is not an emergency medic but who has basic life support training, was passing in the Patient Transport Services ambulance used to take patients to doctors' appointments.

She said: "When a lady ran out in front of the ambulance I thought she was carrying a coat in her arms but it was a child.

"The little girl felt very hot. She had stopped breathing, had a very weak pulse and had gone blue around her mouth."

Shona came round just before a rapid response paramedic arrived.

Mrs Evans said: "He only took four minutes but it felt like four hours.

"It was very frightening but I'm glad I faced it and know I can deal with it."

Ms Derrane said: "Shona started crying. It was the best sound. It doesn't bear thinking about what would have happened if Velia hadn't been there."

Shona was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick children, where she made a full recovery.